Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Ayodele Falase and the President, Life Resuscitation Society of Nigeria (LIRESON), Dr Patience Sotunmbi are not happy over the high rate of death caused by Cardiac arrest, also known as cardio pulmonary arrest in the country, noting that should not have be leading to death.
Speaking on Monday at the 2013 Congress organise by LIRESON, held at School of Nursing, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Falase noted that many lives had been lost in Nigeria due to lack of facilities for emergency care, adding that Cardiovascular event should be preventable if the necessary attention and facilities are put in place.
The former UI VC said: “Cardiac arrest occurs whenever the circulation of blood to all the parts of the body has ceased because the heart has stopped pumping or there is a problem with the blood vessels which convey blood to the organs of the body.
“In sudden collapse, death may occur in a matter of minutes in a person who, up to the moment of collapse, appeared to be in good health and in no danger of death. The only chance for such a person to survive is through institution of emergency resuscitation.”
He noted that majority of cases of sudden collapse or deaths were caused by cessation of pumping by the heart due to heart attacks.
In order to reduce deaths caused by cardiac arrest, Falase called for the establishment of emergency resuscitation units in the hospitals setting, and within community.
He emphasised that provision of a functional, efficient national ambulance service and well trained emergency personnel must be put in those units to allow quick access to the patients, otherwise the patient will not survive.
The President of LIRESON, Dr Sotunmbi said: “It is not uncommon nowadays to hear of people who suddenly dropped dead and were said to have suffered cardiac arrest all over the world.”
She noted that Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), often misunderstood as a massive heart attack, is a treatable condition that does not have to lead to sudden death, adding that when someone suffers SCA, he or she may be fine one minute and then collapse without warning the next without immediate intervention, the victim almost always dies.
Sotunmbi said LIRESON was set to reduce the rate of cardiac arrest by teaching theoretical and practical resuscitation skills to healthcare professionals as well as laypersons.
She said the group developed a variety of basic Life Support (BLS), Advance Life Support (ACLS) and Prolonged Life Support (PCLS) courses in both adult and paediatric cardiac arrest victims based on the United Kingdom council guidelines.
